Kian delos Santos murder trial ends; promulgation set

MANILA, Philippines — After six months of trial, the murder and planting of evidence case filed against three police officers for the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos finally reached its conclusion.

Branch 125 Presiding Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. concluded the last day of trial yesterday, after PO1 Jerwin Cruz took the witness stand and backed up his co-accused that the teenager allegedly shot at them at a dark alley during a “One Time Big Time” operation on Aug. 16, 2017.

“We’re done. Let’s go home,” said the judge after wrapping up the trial that ran for six months, rousing a brief applause in the courtroom.

While Randy and Zaldy delos Santos, Kian’s uncle and father, bumped fists in what they see as an eventual victory in the case, the three accused police officers bowed their heads, with Cruz looking teary-eyed as he wiped away sweat from his face.

The judge set the promulgation on Nov. 29.

In his testimony, Cruz admitted in court that he and his co-accused PO1 Jeremias Pereda did not undergo a paraffin test even though they were involved in an alleged shooting incident.

Defense counsel Oliver Yuan said there is no need for a paraffin test because the police conducted a chemistry test on their service firearms, which yielded no gunpowder nitrates.

PO3 Arnel Oares earlier admitted to firing the gun that killed Kian, but he claimed it was a legitimate shootout.